As consumers become more aware of the growing issue of sex tech waste, is there a market for eco-friendly toys?

Sex tech’s dirty secret

I’ve been writing about sex tech long enough to know there is a dirty industry secret we don’t like to discuss – sex toy waste. The issue is huge as many sex toys are made from plastics, use batteries, and are heavily packaged. 

However, conscious consumption can make a difference. As consumers became aware of toxic materials in sex toys, companies overhauled their materials to make them more body-safe.

Could the same be done for a revolution in eco-friendly tech?

The ‘natural’ sexual revolution

The Natural Love Company thinks so as they have made their mission with sex toys to work towards being carbon neutral, recycling schemes, and compostable bottles of organic lubricant. 

They also revealed a 400% growth in sales from eco-conscious adults looking for a sustainable good time.

“There is limited research on the scale of the problem of sex toy waste, but it is clear it’s a growing concern.” Ben Foster, the co-founder of the company, said.

“Most [sex] toys are made from a combination of materials including plastic, silicone, rubber, metal, and glass. Many materials are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to break down. Batteries or electronic components in some [sex] toys contain hazardous materials that pose a risk to the environment if not disposed of properly. There is the issue of the disposal of packaging materials associated with sex toys, including plastic wrapping, cardboard boxes, and styrofoam inserts.”

There are many ways manufacturers can go greener. Ben highlighted that sex-pert designers need to switch to eco-friendly materials from the start and source ethical raw materials.

“Materials like recycled ocean plastics and sustainably sourced latex are particularly good choices. Companies should think about how they can reduce waste and energy use during production. As a business, we only use plastic-free packaging, and all of our packaging is sourced from recycled materials,” he said.

“We are excited to be at the forefront of some of these developments, and we are due to launch our first range of products that are made entirely from ocean-bound plastics. We will be refreshing our entire collection so that every [sex] toy is made from these recycled plastics. We also have a new range of bondage products which will be created with sustainable cork tree bark as opposed to leather.”

From ocean waste to body-safe sex toys

Ohhcean is another company making waves by switching to recycled ocean plastics to make their toys. Co-founder Mathilde Mackowski has a history in the sex tech industry, and when it came to getting creative and sustainable, she thought – why not?

“Being in an industry that has the potential to play a small part in helping clean up the oceans is amazing. Ohhceans is a tribute to fun and playfulness with the possibility of making a change. It’s a small step but a great beginning,” she said.

It’s not as small a step as you may think to create body-safe sex toys from ocean plastic.

“It’s been a long journey over three years as the process has been a lot more complicated compared to our normal. We spent time finding the best collaborators possible, which fortunately we found in #tide (a leading player that upcycles and recycles ocean-bound plastic), then we learned about the material,” she said.

“The ocean-bound plastic that is collected in and around the ocean reacts differently than virgin plastic when melted and put into molds. It took a lot more testing and time to find the perfect fit and to learn how the material reacted. It wasn’t an easy process, and we were tested on our patience. But that also makes it feel so good to finally have made it here.”

Mathilde is enthusiastic about the products and believes customers will be just as excited to learn how they can consciously make a difference by shopping with awareness. 

“We have launched this first collection, starting with three products so we could learn about people’s interest in this genre. We see change starting to happen in so many industries, and it’s so exciting. The steps might be small in the beginning, but we have started, and it’s only going forward from here,” she said.

Image Sources: Unsplash, Ohhcean

The post Going Green: How Sustainable Sex Toys Are Making a Movement appeared first on Future of Sex.

As porn takes an audio twist, here is why I’m switching on the headphones instead of the video

The ‘sexy’ Audible that provokes the imagination, not just sight

When it comes to porn, it’s never been easier to log on, scroll through and find anything we want online. While it’s an online smut-smorgasbord out there, what do you do, if like many, the visuals just don’t do it for you?

I’m not alone in feeling uneasy about a lot of the porn available today but I still watch. Although, I would love to see better options out there as my neurodivergent brain does not need an excuse to be distracted by awful titles, bad videos, or embarrassing scripts. 

I have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), which means I often struggle with focus and get distracted and overwhelmed easily. This combination makes it very difficult to enjoy porn if I’m not completely engaged with what I’m watching. Basically, it’s impossible to ‘stay in the game’ if my head and heart aren’t in it.

A lot of visual porn is designed to compete with algorithms or for the male gaze and it can be an assault on the senses – especially if you are neurodiverse.

The tide is turning with audio erotica apps. Audio porn sites offer audio clips minus the explicit visuals. You can tailor your experience by selecting preferred gender, kink, or even accent. Think of it as a sexy Audible where it is all down to your filthy imagination. 

This is one area where ADHD-ers have an advantage given how many of us are often described as ‘daydreamers.’ Our imaginations are impressively active, which means we don’t have to work too hard at designing our own sexy situations. 

The benefits of aural stimulation for neurodiversity

There may be a scientific reason why audio content works better for us neurodivergent people. Some studies around ADHD brains and music therapy suggest it may boost attention and focus while reducing hyperactivity. This could work as a result of music’s ability to increase dopamine production which regulates working memory and attention, and something ADHD people have lower amounts of. 

Traditional porn is not designed to be aurally pleasing but relies heavily on the visuals, and coupled with distracting dialogue and overwhelming noises, it can be a lot to process. ADHD people are prone to overstimulation. 

Overstimulation is why I wear headphones every time I leave the house as it stops me from feeling overwhelmed. I cannot filter out everything around me like sounds, smells, or textures but music can help me to stay grounded.

When it comes to sex, this lack of a filter from overstimulation is also an issue. I struggle to reach orgasm or stay in the moment because I’m so consumed by everything else. In recent months, audio porn or a well-timed whisper from a partner can bring me back into the room. 

There are now multiple audio porn apps available for anyone looking to give audio porn a listen, like Quinn or Ferly. The vast majority of apps and sites are clean, easy to access, and quiet in comparison to their XXX video counterparts with the distracting pop-ups, links, clicks, and flashing videos.

This combined with the ability to choose your own experience including voices that are transgender, non-binary, accented, and more means there is even more chance of finding something that works with you rather than distracting you.

Audio porn is a welcome development, especially where accessibility and inclusion are concerned. Realizing I react better to audio has been a bit of a breakthrough in terms of my own sex life. While it’s not to everyone’s taste, I would strongly recommend digging out the headphones, getting cozy, and settling in to listen to a good, sexy story.

Image Sources: Pexels

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The bendable vibrator was designed to help relieve painful sex and even cited in a recent medical study. That said, how good is it?

Toy: Crescendo 2
Brand: MysteryVibe
Price: £169.00

The toy

The Crescendo 2 is no ordinary vibrator (which isn’t a sentence I say lightly). MysteryVibe’s design team has literally thought of everything anyone could want from a sex toy. 

That said, how good is it?

The sex toy comes with many health claims, and it was included in a recent medical study on genito-pelvic pain penetration disorder (GPPPD). Some of the conditions listed that Crescendo 2 can potentially help are vulvodynia, dyspareunia, or urinary incontinence. It also listed erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. 

It is thought to be potentially helpful for improving pelvic health problems through the regular use of a vibrator to strengthen the area. This can help with improving pelvic floor function and making sex easier, especially if the user is postpartum or has a weakened pelvic floor. 

RELATED READ: Vulvodynia: My 3-Year Journey to Diagnosis and Relief

The technology

The first thing you notice about Crescendo 2 is that it bends. It’s lined with a series of joints in the internal frame, which feel incredibly satisfying to bend back and forth like a stress toy. It can easily create O or C shapes and is designed to fit anybody. The more curved shapes can mimic a human finger too. 

The body-safe, matte silicone feels soft to the touch, and the sex toy is fitted with six powerful motors. The most motors I’ve heard of in a sex toy have been two, so six is impressive. The motors allow you to customize your experience to fit your needs. However, don’t worry if the pre-set vibrations don’t work for you, as you can download more from the app or create your own.

A partner can also control your Crescendo 2 via the app if you fancy a little hands-free fun. If you need more convincing, then the sex toy is also water-resistant and will remember your favorite settings. 

Accessibility-wise, the bendable sex toy is pretty good for anyone who might want something flexible. If you struggle with a more rigid toy when placing it where it needs to be, this could be a great option. The packaging is also super easy to open, too. 

When it comes to noise levels, this isn’t one of the louder ones on the markets but the more intense the setting, the louder it is. A closed door or a small bit of music should help with that. 

The test drive

Before we start, I’m a queer neurodivergent tester with a vagina. This actually makes a difference in reviews as it can affect how I experience a sex toy. 

As someone with ADHD, I struggle with overwhelming amounts of choices when it comes to sex toys or complicated instructions. For this reason, I tend to move away from partnering sex toys with apps. I decided to try the Crescendo 2 without connecting the app for this review. 

If you prefer a strong clitorially-focused vibrator, the Crescendo 2’s bending can be a slight issue here. I found that you need to put a hand behind it to stop it from moving away from the body. That said, if you prefer to move from clit-stimulation to penetration, it’s very easy to do that with this vibrator, thanks to the bending function. 

Same with moving it between yourself and your partner. It can be easily changed from one body part to another by clicking it into a new shape. Although, it’s a bit chunky to fit between two bodies if you are planning to use it with a strap-on. 

When it comes to penetration, the vibrations aren’t super intense, so it could be a good sex toy for anyone who prefers lighter vibrations or might be super sensitive. The app may allow you to create something stronger. 

Overall: Bendable vibe with a lot to offer

All in all, the Crescendo 2 is a seriously well-designed vibrator that has something to offer everyone.

The vibrator’s bendability elevates it. It can offer a world of possibilities for anyone who might want to get creative or needs to be able to switch up the shape at the click of a bendy vibe.

Image sources: MysteryVibe

Edited by Carolyn Stransky

The post Coming to a Crescendo: MysteryVibe’s Crescendo 2 Vibrator Review appeared first on Future of Sex.

Meet the sex toy designers that have gone intergalactic in pursuit of pleasure

When it comes to sex toys, there has been a noticeable move away from traditionally designed phallic shapes in recent years. There are some that, at first glance, may not even be instantly recognizable as adult toys. A growing industry of creators have truly thought outside of the box, and even out of this world when it comes to innovative sex toy design.

Beyond the more mainstream sex shops varietals, there is an underground subculture of fantasy-inspired, horror-themed, alienesque sex toys, and it’s a growing business. The fantasy sex toy community find each other across social media, in particular, Twitter and Reddit, to swap recommendations, share advice, and showcase collections.

Tentickle Toys – Handcrafting fantasies one sex toy at a time

Fran Tickles is the owner of Tentickle Toys, an adult fantasy topshop. Her background in film and theatrical special effects and interest in creating monsters lends itself perfectly to fantasy design. Her eye-catching sex toys are all hand-poured molds available in many creative shapes, from burgers to tentacles. 

When it comes to what could be niche, Fran says the fantasy sex toy community is bigger than one would imagine.

“It’s [the community] surprisingly big, so it’s able to support a lot of the smaller [sex] toy makers. It’s a bigger scene in America, but it’s moving into Europe too as there are a lot of people into these [sex] toys,” she said.

“People have impressive collections, some of which they may not even use, but they love them as sculptures too. There is a community of people who happily sterilize to resell if a [sex] toy doesn’t work for them or they need to downsize a collection.”

It’s not just fantasy fans who purchase these otherworldly sex toys, but people who want to deviate from gendered sex toys or prefer a technicolored world of intimate possibilities. Fran highlights there are many reasons people might be attracted to these sex toys.

“The main thing is having something that isn’t gendered or humanoid. People have varying fantasies, and tentacles are a popular item. They don’t need to serve someone with a specific fantasy around tentacles, but they may prefer the shape that isn’t phallic,” she said. 

“It offers people something that doesn’t force them into a means of sexual gratification that doesn’t represent them. People may not want white or black skin tones as they want amazing colors or to move away from the human aspect, so it doesn’t feel like they are having sex with a human man.”

RECOMMENDED READ: 10 Best Places to Shop for Gender-Neutral Sex Toys and Sexual Health Products

Fran is currently developing these dildos so they can fit around a vibrator to upgrade a person’s favorite sex toy while reducing waste. 

“I want to create models that are compatible with standard-size bullet vibrators. Rather than going down the route of creating electrical items, these are going to be receptacles for sex toys.”

She added: “Some brands are also making toppers that can fit on top of a wand to bring a fantasy element to a bland toy. Working alongside existing sex toys is making us get more experimental around how to take mass-produced sex toys to the next level.”

Monster Smash – Curating the next generation of sex toy cult classics

Fergus Monster from Monster Smash moved into the industry during the COVID-19 lockdown. After purchasing a fantastical sex toy, the couple realized that there were very few people in the UK making these types of sex toys, making them an expensive import. They wanted to make it easier for people to buy locally.

Monster Smash offers a collection of fantasy and cult classic film-inspired pieces in an array of colors, shapes, and sizes. Their best sellers can change depending on new sex toy releases, which are updated frequently. 

“Our best sellers can depend on release schedules. Currently, it’s one we released last Halloween called The Shin, which is based on SHIN Godzilla, a lesser known version of Godzilla, which is more gruesome and evil in appearance,” he explained. 

Anyone working in sex toy sales knows the difficulties of explaining to friends and family what you do for a living. However, Fergus hasn’t had any bad reactions despite his niche creations.

Fergus said: “A couple of friends know, and one actually works for me. We’ve not had any bad reactions because people tend to recognize that this sells, so what is the big deal?”

For now, fantasy sex toy brands operate independently from bigger sex toy retailers such as Lovehoney. However, as demand grows, could it get to a point where independent companies are tempted to upscale operations? 

Fergus believes it’s possible, but there are obstacles in the way of getting smaller brands to this point, such as the high cost of living, tightening margins, and the soaring prices of raw materials. 

“It is possible, but it’s a challenge scaling up for wholesale. It can be difficult because a lot of the nature of what we do is handmade, and it’s tough to replicate the aesthetics repeatedly without tighter procedures in place,” he said.

When it comes to sex toy design, both companies and the wider industry, along with increasing demand, show that customers are more than ready to get creative when it comes to their sex toy choices. These creative and often sculptural designs show a real evolution when it comes to providing options for really out-of-this-world sex.

Image Sources: Monster Smash, Tentickle Toys

The post Out of This World: How Fantasy-Inspired Sex Toys Could Be the Next Big Trend appeared first on Future of Sex.

Recent studies have shown that vibrators could help with several conditions, such as GPPPD and vulvodynia.

We’re used to thinking of vibrators as just sexual devices. It’s often hard to see them as anything else. 

However, research shows that vibration may help with sexual health conditions, including Genito-Pelvic Pain & Penetration Disorder (GPPPD). GPPPD can cause painful sex and difficulty with penetration, and while it affects one in ten women, there are limited treatment options. 

Could vibrators be the answer? According to a new medical study on pain, they might be.

“480% improvement in pain scores”

The study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that a vibrator helped to deliver a 480% improvement in pain scores among people with GPPPD. 

This vibrator was the Crescendo 2, developed by MysteryVibe.

Beyond GPPPD, the device claims to work well for other conditions such as vulvodynia, dyspareunia, or urinary incontinence. 

CEO and MysteryVibe co-founder Dr. Soum Rakshit explains further:

“We started Crescendo in 2013 intending to help people bring the mystery back into the bedroom, especially after childbirth, menopause, aging, surgery, or cancer recovery. All of those things have a major impact on sexual health,” he says.

“We decided to focus on the medical side of sexual health by working with doctors, gynecologists, urologists, and pelvic floor therapists to figure out what vibration could clinically offer.”

Designing a vibrator to relieve pain

Crescendo 2 is an impressive piece of kit in that it contains six motors and a series of joints that helps the toy to bend. The intelligent design can be bent into a series of shapes but can also mimic a finger. This helps the device to place vibrations on certain points to relieve pain or help with blood flow or arousal.

“The NHS will tell you, as post-childbirth care, to use two fingers to massage the area in your vagina. The doctors we worked with said it would best to mimic that but try to improve it,” Dr. Rakshit says. 

“Crescendo 2 bends like a finger so not only can a clinician use it to massage a painful area but the patient can also use it themselves to do things that the hand cannot do to deliver precise vibrations where it is needed from a pain or medical perspective.”

RELATED READ: 7 Underreported Issues Affecting the Future of Sex

Vibrations and sexual health is an emerging science

The medical study was conducted by a Spanish clinic, ISEMU, which studies vibration in pain conditions. The Crescendo 2 was used three times a week for twelve weeks before the results showed average pain scores improved by over 5x—a significant quality of life improvement.

The area of vibrations and sexual health is an emerging science with the potential to create a new field in the sex tech industry, especially given the vast numbers of patients with painful conditions. It could create relief for patients who depend on medications that have negative side effects.

“This is a very rare, nascent area where not many doctors consider vibrators yet although some do. Using devices with or without a tablet is at an early stage of adoption,” Dr. Rakshit says.

The company reaches out to clinicians or doctors to run independent studies but provides their devices for free. In the past, this has included studies on period pain and vibration application which resulted in interesting feedback for MysteryVibe designers.

“The feedback revealed that because period pain lasts maybe for hours, it’s really difficult to hold Crescendo because it’s not designed for that. The feedback was to create a different type of vibrator, which could be a belt that fits on the abdomen, then we could run a study,” he says.

Feeling the effects

According to Dr. Rakshit, when it comes to doctors and vibrations, those who have seen the effects are often evangelistic about it:

“Although very few doctors currently use vibrators for sexual health issues, the ones who do are extremely evangelistic about it because what they are always looking for is solutions with no side effects. Whenever they find something, they want to tell the world about it.”

Image sources: RODNAE Productions

Edited by Carolyn Stransky

The post Good Vibes Only: Could Vibrators Actually Help With Painful Sex? appeared first on Future of Sex.

As sex toys go high-tech, most now include travel locks. But what are they, and is it worth spending extra to have one?

To explain the importance of travel locks on vibrators, I will share a recent (and mortifying) experience of traveling with my latest sex toy purchase. 

Picture the scene: it’s early morning in Manchester airport, and I’m queueing for a flight to Naples. The terminal is hot, all of us in the queue are bothered, and we are waiting patiently to have our hand luggage checked. I’m standing with my 100ml cosmetics neatly stored in a plastic bag. 

The security guard yelled, “All electrical items out of your bags, ready for inspection.”

At this point, I remember I have a vibrator in my hand luggage.

When packing my bags, I forgot vibrators could count as electrical items. I’m panicking now as the queue gets closer to the security guards and I think, ‘surely they won’t make me get this out in public?’ 

They absolutely would make me get it out in public. 

No amount of pleading with knowing looks about ‘personal items’ worked. The security guard tapped the gray plastic tray, and I had to fish it out and pop it into the tray. 

I stood there, casually dying inside, as my bright purple toy slid down in its own special tray. That’s right. He made me put it in a separate tray. 

There was only one way this could have been worse: If the toy had switched itself on.

How travel locks on sex toys work

Thankfully, vibrators have gotten more high-tech since I last attempted this. 

Many newer—and more expensive—toys have switched to USB chargers. This means there’s less chance of switching on accidentally. 

Gone are the days of taking battery-operated toys apart to remove the AA batteries. The crossover between sex toys and tech means that designers have quickly recognized the need for things like locks on toys. A travel lock is almost fitted as a standard now. 

The locks are designed to be easy to use. Activating one is as simple as holding down a combination of different buttons to get it to lock or unlock. Each toy will vary and should come with instructions in the accompanying manual or online. 

Not all toys are created equal, though. Sadly, a travel lock seems to be a feature on the more expensive toys, and not everyone can afford this.

What to do if your sex toy doesn’t have a travel lock

If your toy doesn’t come with a locking feature, there are other options for getting it through hand luggage. 

You could have great fun running down the battery before you travel so that it has no charge to switch on in your suitcase. However, this may slow down proceedings when you get to your destination because you must reach for the charger before using your toy.

Also, if you don’t fancy taking an expensive toy or testing a travel lock out, it is still possible to pick up travel versions of different toys or battery-powered options. 

You can dismantle a battery-powered toy into different pieces, which can be stored separately and more discreetly. That said, most locks really do work and if you feel nervous in advance, try a quick test run with it.

RELATED READ: You Can Now Buy Sex Toys from Vending Machines at Berlin’s New Airport

Tips for traveling with sex toys

There are other considerations when it comes to traveling with sex toys. 

Remembering to pack a travel case is also essential. Even if your device didn’t come with a travel case, it’s worth grabbing a storage bag or a clear plastic bag ahead of time so it stays clean. The gray travel trays of airports are not hygienic, so if you have a bag to put your sex toy in, it can keep it clean and save a red face.

A travel lock can sometimes be the last of your worries when flying with sex toys. 

Make sure to check the country you are flying to ahead of time to see if they have any laws about sex toys. For example, taking sex toys into the United Arab Emirates or having them delivered there  is illegal. 

These laws also matter if you stop over in a country before catching another flight, as you are temporarily under the country’s laws. Travel lock or not, it could be worth leaving a toy at home instead of running that risk. 

Don’t forget that lubricants count as liquid, so you must keep them in a clear bag and under 100mls. 

And finally, one last piece of advice from someone who will be bringing up their recent Naples trip in therapy for years to come: 

Don’t forget to laugh about it.

Image source: Vlada Karpovich

The post Why Companies Are Providing Travel Locks on Sex Toys appeared first on Future of Sex.